Meeting of the International Communications Commission in Rome
“We must rediscover the joy of evangelization, which lies at the heart of the Church’s life,” declared Pope Leo XIV during his audience with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on January 29, 2026. This call to spiritual renewal resonated deeply at the General House of the Dehonians in Rome, where the International Communications Commission (ICC) had convened just a day earlier to begin its strategic proceedings.
The Commission is entrusted with an essential mission: to communicate Christ by promoting the Dehonian charism and sharing the Dehonian mission, which is actively present in approximately 45 countries worldwide. By leveraging the official website and social media platforms, the ICC seeks to move beyond simple information-sharing toward a true "storydoing" approach. Sharing these contents is not merely an administrative task; it is a precious opportunity to communicate the beauty of the Dehonian charism and a concrete form of digital evangelization strongly encouraged by the Church.
The commissions members
The Commission’s strength lies in its diversity, bringing together voices from five continents to Rome. Led by Fr. Boris Igor Signe, SCJ (Cameroon) as Coordinator, the team includes Fr. Antonio Maria Resende Pereira, SCJ (Canada), Fr. José Ronaldo de Castro Gouvea, SCJ (Brazil), Br. Alejandro Burbano, SCJ (Ecuador), Fr. Paweł Szlezinger, SCJ (Poland), Fr. Cristo Wahyu, SCJ (Indonesia), and Fr. Julius Socorro, SCJ (Philippines). This group works in collaboration with the General Secretary, Fr. Angelo Adao, SCJ, as representative of the general administration.
A Multidimensional Program: Linking Spirit and Strategy
The week was characterized by a "richness of encounter," balancing spiritual rootedness with professional expertise. Each day began in the heart of Dehonian life—communal prayer, Adoration, and Vespers—before transitioning into intensive working sessions with key stakeholders. The Commission engaged with a diverse range of experts to align communication with the Congregation's global mission:
- Vision of the General Administration: The meeting with Fr. Angelo Adao, SCJ (Secretary General) provided a deeper understanding of the General Administration’s strategic vision.
- Academic & Professional Expertise: Prof. Daniel Arasa (Dean of the Faculty of Communication at UPSC) outlined a roadmap for institutional identity and human-centered communication.
- Technical Infrastructure: Vincenzo Quagliarella (Webmaster) led technical workshops to optimize the Congregation’s digital architecture, while Fr. Sergio Rotasperti, SCJ, explored the innovative intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and graphic standards.
- Heritage and Charism: Exchanges with Fr. Lévi Ferreira, SCJ (Vicar General and Head of Educare), Fr. Yudis Adifitrityassanto, SCJ (Dehonian Studies Center), and Fr. Ramon Dominguez, SCJ (Postulator General) fostered greater collaboration with other departments of the General Administration.
These were not merely formal presentations but dynamic exchanges. Each meeting served a dual purpose: to inspire the Commission with new ideas and to identify concrete areas for cross-departmental collaboration.
Field Experience: Visit to TeleDehon
A particularly meaningful experience was the visit to TeleDehon - the television station run by the Dehonians in the Southern Italian Province in Andria. The station’s director, Fr. Francesco Mazzotta, SCJ, shared with us the history and mission of TeleDehon. We had the opportunity to see how a television studio operates behind the scenes. During our visit, the Commission team, in collaboration with TeleDehon staff, recorded an interview with Fr. Francesco, which will be published soon.
For the members of the Commission, the meeting in Rome opened a very new chapter. Until now, the Commission had met regularly once a month online. The Rome meeting was the first opportunity to meet in person and thus deepen relationships and strengthen collaboration. The week in Rome proved to be very satisfactory and the commission hope it will bear fruit in further work. The result is a concrete communication strategy that includes both the website and social media platforms.
Stay connected and follow our mission on our official channels:
Site: https://www.dehoniani.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dehoniansworldwide
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDDXNK4vMYC_6O_fc2TR2Q
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dehonians/
WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va95ytFGehEGbcpZPD28
Telegram: https://t.me/dehonians
